Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-03-14
SOCIETY AND THE NATIONAL
OPERA.
An Excellent Institution Not Smiled
Upon by the Leaders"

An Excellent Institution Not Smiled
Upon by the LEADERS"
NEW YORK. March 12.-Soclety as such
does not smile upon the National Opera.
1t is + pity and it is unfair to the last de-
gree, for there can be no question of tie
critical excellence OF the performances
now being given at the Met opolitsn
Opera House. But society will not have
1t, aud so the great auditorium, which
was ablaze with diamonds, and snowy
toilets during the Germen opera season,
is dimmed by the sober costumes OF the
poor relations and out-of-toWn cousins Of
the millionaire box owners. 1t would he
difficult to describe in detail the change
that has come over the entire opera hOus &,
but the effect is palpable. When smai.
section of society does venture out to on"
OF the performances of the National Opera
1t comes late, talks as Though bored TO
death be the performance, and retires
early. 1t Is a pity that nothing that is
American can become fashionable in
New York, for the things that
are important ard very far from
entertaining. To me the NatiOna!
Opera is more welcome than the German,
though 1t is not stamped with the seal OF
over Wagner and l believe the whole
Wagnerian craze to exist only In the
minds of few enthusiasts. The most
successful opera has been the "Queen O
Sheba." This 10 largely spectacular and
was written by Goldmark ana not Wag
ner. Many of the shrewdest judges OF
theatrical affairs insist that the time is in
the near future when the national or
American opera will take first place and
hn hor 10 -
position. Their Judgment 10 based upon
the fact that the time will come when the
Metropolitan stockholders will kick
over the traces. The assessments thar
are made upon them are enormous, and
the 81. 900. 600 that the German opera has
spent over its income In three seasons IS
heavy load to carry.
1t Is a peculiar phase OF the Wagner
craze that it's victims do not admit the
existence OF any other music than that OF
the great German. When "Fausp was
sung the other might by the National
Company the admirers OF the Emusic Of
the future" we're bored by it-apparently.
They Yawned, stared about the house and
talked carelessly during the garden scene
as though the music were of too trivial
character to merit attention. And yet
this is an opera that has been w0rshiped
since the day it was produced. That any
one not totally devoid of senslbility can
listen to its exquisite and famous bar
monies unmoved is to me Incompetent
sible. rave seen many performances OF
"Faust," but none more creditable than
than of the National Opera Company.
Many of the professional critics do not
like it. but that is doubtless owing to
their nationality.
1t is curious thing that all the promi-
nent musical critics OF New York
Lindhaur, K ahbiel, Steinberg, Schwab.
Kobbe, etc.-are German. 1t is, perhaps.
natural that they should love the music
of their fatherland, but Pm blessed if
see Why it should be considered necessary
TO ram that music into the ears OF the oc
casiOnal, sincere and perturbed Amer
can, who is fond OF the grace and fancy
Of tire French and Italian school. Blu
the German clique, with Its backing
enormously rich German Jews, is power
full AID must prevail. An American
hasn't much of a chance in New York
ev, under the most favorable condition
The Germans attend to our music, the
French to our stomachs, the English t.
society and the stag, the Jews TO bust
ness and the Irish TO politics. The bunco
industry and the pa,times OF jumpin4
bridges and shooting through rapids ar
left us, but even these paths are being
invaded by rank outsiders and aliens.
BLAKELY HALL